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Both the Carleton Ravens and University of Ottawa Gee-Gees were singing each other’s praises leading up to their Ontario University Athletics quarterfinal matchup in men’s hockey.

Nothing changed following the Ravens 3-2 overtime win in Game 1 on Wednesday night at The Carleton Ice House.

“Really glad we won,” Ravens coach Shaun Van Allen said.

“There were times when we were just OK out there and our goalie made some big saves for us but we found a way to win. When you’re in a best-of-three, getting that first win really helps, but this series is a long way from over. “

Game 2 is Friday night at the Minto Sports Complex on the U of O campus.

Adam Chapman collected a rebound off a Josh Burnside shot and buried the winner past Anthony Brodeur at 7:02 of the overtime.

The Ravens' Alexandre Boivin goes down after a collision with uOttawa's Michael Poirier during an Ontario University Athletics playoff game at the Carleton University Ice House on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018.Marc Lafleur/Carleton

Photos: University of Ottawa vs. Carleton at Ice House (Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018)

Jacob Hanlon had tied the game for the Gee-Gees with a 124 left in the third period when he was able to bang a loose puck past Francois Brassard in the Carleton goal. That goal came on the Gee-Gees 43rd shot of the game.

“Our effort level was there and the positive that we can take is we came back and scored a late goal to tie it,” Gee-Gees coach Patrick Grandmaitre said.

“We had a lot of time in their zone and a lot of shots, but that’s a good team. It takes almost a perfect game to beat a team like that. There’s a reason they’re ahead of us and they showed it.”

The Gee-Gees outshot the Ravens 45-31 overall.

“We need to do a better job coming out of our own end and supporting the puck better. They hemmed us in at times so that’s one of the things we’ll look to improve on,” Van Allen said.

Curtin Meighan scored twice for the Ravens, giving them a 1-0 lead with a shorthanded goal at 13:07 of the first period.

Meighan played a perfect give-and-go with Alexandre Boivin, dropping the puck at the blue line and racing around the Gee-Gees defence before tucking a return pass through Brodeur’s legs.

Brendan Jacome tied the game 1-1 with a shorthanded goal of his own as he elected to shoot on a 2-on-1 12 minutes into the second period and beat Brassard high to the glove side.

Less than two minutes later Meighan scored on a breakaway to give the Ravens a 2-1 lead after the second. After the game he gave credit to Brassard for keeping the game close.

“He really stole one for us. That’s what we know he can do and what we know he can bring every night and we’re lucky to have him,” Meighan said.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy and that they weren’t going to give it to us. We knew we had to play are best. We held back a bit and they really brought it to us and that’s something we need to improve on.”

This is the first playoff meeting between the schools since 2013 when the Ravens won the series 2-1. They won the season series this year over the Gee-Gees taken three of the four meetings, including a 7-2 win Dec. 1, the last time they met.

Now the question is how will the young players on either side react in a short series.

“When the young guys come out of junior (series) are a best-of-seven. It’s such a longer series, so a best-of-three is so hard,” Van Allen said.

“We just want to continue to try and put pressure on them. They had a good effort tonight and I imagine they’ll have just as good of one on Friday,” van Allen said.

Should a Game 3 be necessary it will be back at the Ice House Sunday night.

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